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Final Report Project Developing Improved Farming & Marketing Systems in Rainfed Regions of Southern Lao PDR

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Final Report Project Developing Improved Farming & Marketing Systems in Rainfed Regions of Southern Lao PDR Final report project Developing Improved Farming & Marketing Systems in Rainfed Regions of Southern Lao PDR project number CSE/2009/004 date published December 2015 prepared by Prof Len Wade, Dr Tamara Jackson, Ms Jenny Locker, Ms Sarah Boothey Dr Bounthong Bouahom, Dr Pheng Sengxua, Dr Ben Samson, Mr Viengsavanh co-authors/ Phimphachanvongsod, Dr Tassilo Tiemann, Dr Thavone Inthavong, Associate contributors/ Professor Phil Eberbach, Associate Professor Rob Cramb, Dr Silinthone Sacklockam, collaborators Mr Thongchanh Sengsourivong, Mr John Smith, Ms Jessica Armstrong, Dr Chanthakhone Boulaphanh, Mr Brian Dunn, Dr Stephan Haefele, Mr Dome Harnpichitvitaya, Ms Mayouly Hongsathilath, Mr Kongsackda Ketty, Mr Souksamlane Khampoumee, Mr Khamsouk, Mr John Lacey, Dr Ruben Lampayan, Dr Vongphaphanh Manivong, Dr Jono Newby, Mr Khampou Phouyavong, Ms Soulyphone Sidavong, Mr Vorachith Sihathep, Mr Saysathith Souliyavongsa, Mr Khammone Thiravong, Dr Leigh Vial, Mr Somsammai Vongthilath, Mr Sisavanh Vorlason, Dr Camilla Vote, Mr Sisavanh Xayavong, Dr Ketema Zeleke final report number FR2016-04 ISBN 978-1-925436-27-3 published by ACIAR GPO Box 1571 Canberra ACT 2601 Australia This publication is published by ACIAR ABN 34 864 955 427. Care is taken to ensure the accuracy of the information contained in this publication. However ACIAR cannot accept responsibility for the accuracy or completeness of the information or opinions contained in the publication. You should make your own enquiries before making decisions concerning your interests. © Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR) XXXX - This work is copyright. Apart from any use as permitted under the Copyright Act 1968, no part may be reproduced by any process without prior written permission from ACIAR, GPO Box 1571, Canberra ACT 2601, Australia, [email protected]. Final report: Developing Improved Farming & Marketing Systems in Rainfed Regions of Southern Lao PDR Contents 1 Acknowledgments .................................................................................... 3 2 Executive summary .................................................................................. 4 3 Background ............................................................................................... 5 3.1 Partner country and Australian research and development issues and priorities ............... 5 3.2 Research and/or development strategy and relationship to other ACIAR investments and other donor activities ...................................................................................................10 4 Objectives ............................................................................................... 13 5 Methodology ........................................................................................... 15 6 Achievements against activities and outputs/milestones .................. 19 7 Key results and discussion ................................................................... 27 7.1 Introduction ........................................................................................................................27 7.2 Farming household and market analysis: setting the scene ..............................................29 7.3 Securing the wet season rice crop: Crops and soil improvement ......................................38 7.4 Options for diversification ...................................................................................................43 7.5 Knowledge sharing and capacity development .................................................................52 7.6 Approaches to synthesis and delivery ...............................................................................55 7.7 Conclusion and future opportunities ..................................................................................68 7.8 Training Activities ...............................................................................................................70 7.9 Cross-Site Visits .................................................................................................................75 8 Impacts .................................................................................................... 84 8.1 Scientific impacts – now and in 5 years .............................................................................84 8.2 Capacity impacts – now and in 5 years .............................................................................84 8.3 Community impacts – now and in 5 years .........................................................................85 8.4 Communication and dissemination activities .....................................................................86 9 Conclusions and recommendations ..................................................... 87 9.1 Conclusions ........................................................................................................................87 9.2 Recommendations .............................................................................................................87 10 References .............................................................................................. 88 10.1 References cited in report ..................................................................................................88 10.2 List of publications produced by project .............................................................................89 Page ii Final report: Developing Improved Farming & Marketing Systems in Rainfed Regions of Southern Lao PDR 1 Acknowledgments We thank ACIAR for providing the funds to support the Southern Laos Project, and Dr Carolyn Lemerle, Dr Mike Nunn, Dr Evan Christen and Dr John Dixon for their support as Research Program Managers in socio-economics and knowledge sharing, livestock, water and farming systems respectively, especially Dr John Dixon as Lead RPM. We thank the Government of the Lao Peoples Democratic Republic as our host country, and the National Agricultural and Forestry Research Institute as our implementing organisation in Lao PDR, for their cooperation, interest and support to this project. In particular, Dr Bounthong Bouahom, Director-General of NAFRI and our Oversight Coordinator, and Dr Pheng Sengxua as Lao Coordinator, regularly provided valuable advice and support to the project, including facilitation of communication and financial transfers between institutions in Lao PDR. We thank NAFRI, PAFO and DAFO Directors for allocating staff and resources to work with the project, and for feedback from Agricultural Directors in PAFO and DAFO in Savannakhet and Champassak provinces, including the districts of Outomphone, Phalanxay, Phin, Sepon, Nong, Phonthong, Soukhouma, and Moulapamok. We also thank Directors Phoudalay and Vorachit to access to staff and resources at Thasano and Phone Ngam Stations, and Village Heads for access to farmers and on-farm sites. We especially thank our farmer co-operators and district staff for their support in implementing the project. We thank related projects in the south for useful discussions and opportunities to explore distribution of seed and extension materials, joint demonstrations, and pilot scaling out of technologies, which we encourage to continue beyond the life of the current project. We thank our institutions for agreeing to allow us to participate in this important project, including Charles Sturt University as Commissioned Organisation, University of Queensland, New South Wales Department of Primary Industries, International Rice Research Institute, Centre for Tropical Agriculture, National University of Lao PDR, and NAFRI. We thank our project team for their excellent collaboration and cooperation. It has been a joy to work in such a fantastic project with such a great team on such an important project, which we hope will continue to accrue success long after its completion in October 2015. We are thankful to have had the opportunity to contribute to improved livelihoods, freedom from hunger, and greater food security in southern Lao PDR. Page 3 Final report: Developing Improved Farming & Marketing Systems in Rainfed Regions of Southern Lao PDR 2 Executive summary The lowland and upland farming systems of rainfed southern Lao PDR have been identified as having elevated risk of hunger and rising rural poverty. The Government of Lao PDR recognises the south as an agricultural economy in transition, with a need to ensure that the poor participate in and benefit from the transition process. Increasing the supply of food and generating income from these systems is constrained by low fertility soils, weed competition, production and market risk (including drought and flood) and increasing cost of labour. Ineffective value chains and poor market access, inappropriate product quality, lack of infrastructure, extension and policy support impede farmers' efforts to change their farming systems. Risk-averse producers have little incentive to invest in better production and higher inputs. Nevertheless, the lowlands and uplands in the south have potential for market surplus in rice, other crops and livestock, and therefore, a better understanding of regional market potential and comparative advantage is important. In the southern rice-based systems, there are opportunities to intensify and diversify the production systems with livestock and other crops, through the development of new technologies, and the adaptation of knowledge from the northern uplands of Lao PDR and neighbouring countries. Through better understanding
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